Congressional Serial Set Volume 4833

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ...agree closely with the foregoing, so they need not be added. EXAMINATION OF SQUARES BEFORE OVIPOSITION. In the course of a great mauy observations upon oviposition it was found that females almost invariably examine a square quite carefully before they will begin a puncture for egg deposition. This examination b conducted entirely by means of senses located in the antennae and not at all by sight. In fact, the sense of sight appears to be of comparatively small use to this weevil. In regard to the actual time spent in the work of examination before beginning a puncture CO observations were recorded. These show that the average time is over two minutes. This examination of squares is made by females onl' when they intend to oviposit. Males have never been observed acting in this way, nor do females generally do so when their only object is to feed. SELECTION OF UNINVESTED SQUARES FOR OVIPOSITION. So unerring is the sense by which examination is made that in a few cases it was able to discover an infested condition no external sign of which was visible to the writer's eTe. A female which was under close observation examined in the usual manner the square given her, but though evidently searching for a place to oviposit and anxious to do so, she plainly objected to placing an egg in that particular square. The writer again examined the square carefully, but found no sign of infestation and replaced it in the observation cage. Again the female made her usual careful examination and still she plainly refused to oviposit. Upon removing the covering from the square it was found to contain an egg, but the puncture made in depositing it had healed so smoothly that it had thrice escaped observation. The same female was then given two squares, one of which was known t...